Best Books About… Horses

February 3, 2010 at 3:58 am · Filed under RB Recommends

Many of you come in to The Bug asking our expert staff to recommend the very best Princess Book, Pirate Book, Vampire Book, Science Book… you name it! And, of course, we’re happy to oblige.  We want to share our knowledge with you so, from time to time, we’ll be using this blog to highlight some of the best, age appropriate books we know, organized by genre or topic.  This week, we’ll be staring with (drumroll please)… horses!  We know we’ve got horse lovers of all ages out there so, below, please find the cream-of-the-crop, organized by age.  Click on the book picture or title for more information or to purchase.

UPDATE: Some additions made on 2/6/10 – thanks to everyone for reminding me of some great titles that definitely belong on this list!

Picture Books:

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble.   Any list of best horse and pony books should include this book, which won the Caldecott award in 1979.  It is the moving story of a Native American girl whose tribe follows the buffalo. The young girl loves the horses that she tends so much that she longs to be one of them.  Ages 4-8

Black Beauty’s Early Days in the Meadow by Anna Sewell  depicts the first few months of Black Beauty’s life as a foal frolicking in the meadow, with Jane Monroe’s lush oil paintings of the foal and his mother set in the green fields and shady trees. Ages 4-8.

The Story of Black Beauty by Alan Marks.  A wordless picture book based on the classic tale by Anna Sewell. When the young horse Black Beauty is sold, he has no idea of the hardships he is about to face. A moving series of tales of cruelty and kindness across the rolling hills of the English countryside and the narrow cobbled streets of London.  Ages 4-8.

Harry and Horsie by Katie Van Camp is a fall 2009 Kid’s Indie Next Pick. Illustrated with retro-comic art, this is a story about a boy named Harry and his best friend Horsie, who sneak out of bed one night for an out-of-this world adventure. Ages 3-6.

My Pony by Susan Jeffers tells the story of a young girl who dreams of having a pony. When her parents explain that ponies are expensive and require a great deal of space, the girl begins drawing a pony, Silver, who comes to life, spiriting the child on a fantasy ride.  Ages 4-8.

The Wild Little Horse by Rita Gray  is about a colt full of curiosity and energy as he explores the world.  The story is in rhyme, with repeated sounds such as the swish, swish, swish of the horses’ tails and the whoosh, whoosh, whoosh of the wind.   Ages 4 to 8.

Horse by Malachy Doyle describes the birth of a foal and his first year with beautiful double page oil paintings by Angelo Rinaldi that look almost photographic.  Ages 4 to 8.

Fritz and the Beautiful Horses, written and illustrated by award-winner Jan Brett, is about Fritz, a pony who is not beautiful, but who finally gets the chance to shine in his own special way.  Ages 4-8.

Leonardo’s Horse by Jean Fritz is a unique book that tells two stories.  The first story is about Leonardo da Vinci, who earned a commission from the duke of Milan to create a bronze horse three times larger than life, but never was able to finish the project.  The second story is about an American named Charles Dent who decided to create the sculpture and make it a gift from the American people to the residents of Italy.  This book is a wonderful read-alound and an inventive introduction to the Renaissance and one of its masters.  Ages 5 and up.

Seabiscuit the Wonder Horse by Meghan McCarthy is not, in my opinion, one of the best horse and pony books,  but it could be just the right book for you.  The book is a true Rocky Balboa story.  Seabiscuit was the grandson of one of the greatest racehorses of all time, but he lost practically every race he ran until he was “discovered” by an automobile tycoon, a clever trainer and a loving jockey.  He began winning races, but no one believed that he could beat War Admiral, the top racehorse in the country.  It is a story of hope and determination, set in the 1930s depression era, that will inspire readers of all ages.   Ages 4 to 8 and Seabiscuit lovers of all ages.

Early Readers:

CLASSICS:  Billy and Blaze by C.W. Anderson is one of a series of books about the adventures of Billy and Blaze that revolve around proper care of horses, while teaching a lesson. Anderson goes to great lengths to give accurate information. By the end of Anderson’s life, he had written and illustrated over thirty-five horse books, including 10 about Billy and Blaze.  Ages 6 to 8.

OTHER EARLY READER BOOKS: Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman, illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Betsy Lewin, is a series of 5 early readers about Cowgirl Kate and here adventures with her horse Cocoa.

Horse Diaries series by Catherine Hapka is a new series of diaries written from the perspective of the horses—there is a different horse in each book.  Book 1 is about Elska, a young foal born in Iceland in 1000.  Book 2 is about Bell’s Star, a brown Morgan in the 1850s who helps rescue a runaway slave, and Book 3 is about Koda, a bay quarterhorse with a white blaze traveling on the Oregon Trail.  The good news is that there are more on the way!

Magic Hoofbeats: Horse Tales from Many Lands by Joseph Sherman is another wonderful Barefoot Books anthology of the best of the best horse and pony stories.  Each and every one of them knows how to help its riders out and to ensure that good prevails over evil.  The illustrations are as beautiful as the stories.  Magic Hoofbeats also includes information about the different breeds of horses that live in the countries from which these tales are taken.  A great book to read aloud to ages 6 and above, and for readers 8 to 12.

Middle School Books:

CLASSICS:  Justin Morgan Had a Horse by Marguerite Henry is the true story of a young boy who trained the first all-American Morgan horse.  A Newbery Honor book.

Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry is a Newbery Medal winning story of an Arabian horse from North Africa and his adventures in France and New England.

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